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Morales becomes Bolivia’s president

Leftist coca grower leader Evo Morales was sworn in on Sunday as the first indigenous president of Bolivia with high expectations of a better life for the poor majority in one of Latin America’s most volatile countries.

“The 500 years of Indian resistance have not been in vain,” Morales said in his inaugural speech. “From 500 years of resistance we pass to another 500 years in power.”

In his inaugural speech, Morales blamed the “neo-liberal” economic policies of the past and the “looting of our natural resources” for the poverty that affects around two-thirds of Bolivians.